Weighing apparatus.



No. 764,530. PATENTED JULY 5,1904. U. S. JAMES. WEIGHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.12, 1903. N0 MODEL.

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No. 764,530. "PATENTED JULY 5, 1904. U. s. JAMES.

WEIGHING APPARATUS.

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No. 764,530. I PATENTED JULY 5, 1904. U. S. JAMES.

WEIGHING APPARATUS.

N0 MODEL. APPLICATION FILED NOV.12, 1903.

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712' 2625 636. iwazzaozf %Zz WT Z/QAYae/YAST @mg %/0 g No. 764,530. PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

U. S. JAMES. WBIGHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1903.

PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

U S JAMES WEIGHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED NOV.12, 1903. no MODEL.

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PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

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' U. S. JAMES.

WBIGHING APPARATUS.

' AIPLIOATION FILED NOV. 12, 1903.

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No. 764,530. PATENTED JULY 5, 1904,

U. s. JAMES.

WEIGH'ING APPARATUS.

I APPLIOAIION FILED NOV.12, 1903. HO MODE-L. 11 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

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PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

U S JAMES WEIGHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1903. no MODEL. 11 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

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PATENT OFFICE.

ULYSSES S. JAMES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE JAR [ES AUTOMATIC TESTING AND RECORDING SCALE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAW'ARE.

WEIGHING APPARATUS- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 764,530, dated July 5, 1904;.

Appli atio filed November 12, 1903. Serial No. 180,896. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ULYSSES S. JAMES, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New-York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in I/Veighing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to weighing apparatus; and the object of the invention is to provide an effective apparatus of this character organized to rapidly weigh large or small quantities of different kinds of substances, whether of granular or liquid form.

The apparatus in the present case will be described as constructed for weighing and delivering automatically grain, such as wheat.

The work of the machine is as accurate as that of hand-Weighing.

In conjunction with the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, I employ recording means to record the loads, which is of such character as to indicate either overloads or underloads that is, either excesses or deficiencies in the several chargesand by virtue of which an absolutely precise and permanent record of the operations of the apparatus can be obtained. The recording means, however, may

either in whole or in part be omitted, and the same statement applies to other mechanisms. In fact, said recording, as well as said other mechanisms, may be materially varied as to arrangement, form, and like details without departing from the spirit of my invention included in the claims succeeding the following description.

In some respects the present invention is a modification of that embraced by my contemporaneously-pending application, filed October 10, 1902, Serial No. 126,733, and entitled Automatic testing and recording mechanism for weighing-machines.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional front elevation of a weighing apparatus involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same as seen from the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of certain actuating and controlling mechanisms. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the parts represented in Fig. 3 and also showing a portion of a scale-beam. Fig. 5 is a sectional rear elevation of the mechanism for elfecting the discharge of a load. and certain cooperating parts. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of certain trip, tape-feed, and other parts. Fig. 7 is a view showing a finger controlled by the weighing mechanism and a guard operative with said finger. Fig. 8 is a view of certain feed-pawls and cooperative parts also representing an eccentric for actuating said pawls. Fig. 9 is a view of a guard for a ratchet. Figs. 10 and 11 are sectional front elevations, the sections being taken on the lines 10 10 and 11 11, respectively, of Fig. 3. Fig. 12 is a view of a portion of a beam, a weight-lifter, the load-discharging mechanism, and certain other parts. .Fig. 13 is a view of the pressure member and its carrier constituting part of the recording mechanism. Fig. 14 is a view of the tape-feed rolls. Fig. 15 is a face view of the printing mechanism. Fig. 16 is a view of the supply-hopper and valve-controlling mechanism and certain adjacent parts. Figs. 17 and 18 are sectional front and sectional side views, respectively, of certain trip devices and coacting elements. Figs. 19 and 20 are sectional elevations of certain ratchets, and Fig. 21 is a sectional elevation of one of said ratchets. Fig. 22 is a sectional elevation taken on line 22 22 of Fig. 3 looking toward the front of the machine.

Like characters refer to like parts throughment applies with equal force to other mechmore scale-beams.

anisms, for in some respects I consider myself to be the pioneer inventor.

The weighing apparatus includes in its construction Weighing mechanism which in the embodiment of the invention illustrated-in the accompanying drawings includes in its construction a load receiver or carrier and one or The load-carrier is represented as consisting of a hopper-shaped bucket 2, carried directly by a system of beams each denoted by 3. The beams 3 are supported within a platform 4, which is in the form of a casing inclosing a discharge-hopper 5, into which the loads from. the bucket are intermittently discharged. The beams 3 are of course supported by the platform 4, constituting a part of the framework of the apparatus, and they are of the kind ordinarily employed in the so-called hopper-scales, and hence an extended description of the same is not necessary.

The delivery-opening of the load-receiver or bucket 2 is controlled by a closer 6 of the swinging type, it being pivotally supported in the present instance at the lower forward side of the bucket. This closer constitutes a load-discharging controller and is adapted to be shut by a counterweight? upon the forward side thereof. The closer 6, as will hereinafter appear, is positively and automatically released, so as to permit the discharge of the contents of the bucket 2 into the hopper 5, and when the load has completely left said bucket the Weight 7 will return the closer 6 to its initial or shut position.

A wheel or disk 8 is represented as mounted for turning movement at the upper rear side of the bucket 2, a rod 9 being pivotally connected with the said wheel 8 and closer 6, respectively. A second rod 10 is connected with said wheel 8 and also with a shorter rod or link 11. The connections between the rods and the parts to which they are united in the present case are pivotal ones. The short rod or link 11 is connected to the forward terminal end of the rod 10 at one end, its opposite end being jointed to the bucket 2 in such manner that normally the several pivots of the rods 10 and 11 will be approximately in line. Therefore it will be obvious that the two connected rods 10 and 11 constitute a toggle for normally maintaining the closer 6 shut. By throwing the toggle center at the extreme right out of horizontal or approximately horizontal line with the other centers the toggle will be broken or flexed, thereby releasing the closer 6, so that the weight of the material sustained upon the same can force it open to thereby permit such material to pass from the bucket 2 into the discharge-hopper.

Upon the upper side of the platform 4 are mounted the standards 12 in vertical parallelism and which sustain at their tops a shelf 13, which in turn carries the casing or housing lain which certain of the controlling and actuating parts hereinafter described are inclosed, so as to be protected from the action of dust and other objectionable matter. The casing has upon itsforward side a glass door through which the different parts inclosed by said casing can be readily inspected and by opening which ready access may be had to any of said parts for purposes of repair.

- The weighing mechanism in the present instance includes what I'shall for convenience term primary and secondary scalebeams, these being in addition to the usual beams which directly sustain the bucket. The primary scale beam serves certain offices, such as controlling the closing of the valve mechanism which governs the supply of material to the bucket and subsequently the opening of the valve mechanism, while the secondary scale-beam performs the actual weighing or accurate balancing of the material in the bucket. In other words, the primary scalebeam, although provided with a weight, does not serve any function in the balancing of the load, this being secured by the secondary or balancing or weighing beam. In the present instance when the secondary scale-beam is under action for balancing or actually weighing the load the primary beam is out of action.

The primary scale-beam is denoted by 15 and is approximately of yoke form, it being fulcrumed to the rear of its cross-bar upon the standards or uprights 12. Said primary scale-beam has a forwardly-extending arm 16, connected by a linkage connection (denoted in a general way by 17) to what is shown in Fig. 1 as the left end of the shelf-lever 18. By virtue of said linkage connection, the links being open or loop ones, the said shelf-lever may have a relative movement with respect to the primary beam. Said primary beam has a rearwardlyextending arm 19, from which is suspended a weight 20, which is of a mass suflicient to slightly underbalance the predetermined load. The mass of the weight, however, issuflicient to effect the opening of i the valve mechanism hereinafter described.

The shelf-lever 18 is connected loosely by a rod 21 to the uppermost one of the plat- I form-beams 3, the connection between the rod 21 and the shelf-lever being substantially midway of the latter. What is represented as the right end of the shelf-lever is connected by a rod 22 with the short arm of the balancing or weighing beam 23, fulcrumed upon the pillaror post 24, supported by the shelf 13within the casing 1 1. Therefore when the bucket settles the weighted ends of the primary and secondary beams through the connections with the platform-beams will be elevated in unison for a certain period.

It will be remembered that the primary beam 15 is thrown out of action, and this occurs just before the completed load is in the bucket or at about the time the so-called dripstream has been cut off. The rear end of the primary beam 15 plays between the branches of a trig-loop 25, the lower branch serving when the apparatus is at rest as a support for the weighted end of said primary beam, while the upper branch of thetrig-loop is engaged by the weighted end of the primary beam just before the load is made up in the bucket. Therefore the trig-loop, or rather the upper branch thereof, constitutes a means for putting the primary beam out of action. Beyond this point the secondary or balancing beam 23 is effective, so as to accurately weigh the load in the bucket.

It will be seen that the connections between the various beams are loose ones, by reason of which the secondary scale-beam is permitted to have a free motion to weigh or balance a load after the primary beam is out of action.

The stream-supplying means is illustrated as consisting of a hopper 26, having the lateral arms 26 connected in any desirable way with the standards 12 and located in such relation to the bucket 2 that the stream of material issuing therefrom will gravitate into said bucket. The stream-controlling means is represented as consisting of two valves-a main valve 27 and an auxiliary valve 28-these being arranged to have their effective portions swing under the outlet or mouth of the hopper 6 to arrest the supply-stream. The two valves are suitably mounted upon the hopper for swinging movement upon an axis in common. Each valve is provided at the upper end thereof with sleeves each denoted by 30, the sleeves of the main valve being loose upon the transverse rock-shaft 31, (see Fig. 16,) carried by suitable brackets upon the forward side of the supply-hopper 26. The closing of the main valve is assisted by a weight 32, carried upon an arm the hub of which is suitably connected to said main valve. The sleeves 30 of the auxiliary valve are fastened to said rock-shaft.

Upon the primary scale-beam 15, slightly to the rear of its center of motion, is adjust ably mounted an arm 33, (see Fig. 2,) extending normally diagonally upward and rearward from said beam and having between its ends a segmental downward and rearward extension 34, connected by a pin and arcuate slot-joint (denoted in a general way by with said primary beam, by means of which joint the angular position of the arm 33 can be adjusted. This arm 33 controls the closing of the main valve during the loading of the bucket, and subsequently,when the bucket is rising empty with its closer shut, serves to open the said main valve. Said main valve 27 is provided at one end with a cam 36, (see Figs. 2 and 16,) with the working surface of which the free end of the arm 33 coa'cts. The two valves being wide open, as shown in Fig.2, and the closer 6being shut, the full volume of the supply-stream from the hopper 26 will flow into the empty bucket 2, and when a certain proportion of the load is therein the bucket, with its contents, will settle, whereby the weighted arm of the primary beam 19 will be caused to rise, and as it does so the free end of the arm 33 will move away from the cam 36, the working surface of the latter during such motion rolling upon said free end, by virtue of which the main valve is permitted to close by its own weight, augmented by the effect of the weight 32, and at about the time the major portion of the load is in the bucket the arm 33 will have passed entirely free of the cam 36, the main valve 27 at this point being closed and naturally cutting off the greater portion of the stream from the hopper 26. At this stage an attenuated or, as is known in the art, a drip stream flows through the reduced outlet of the hopper 26 into the bucket to complete or top off the load therein, and just about the time the load is completed the auxiliary or drip valve 28 will be permitted to close by its weight, so as to cutoff the stream. At the time the auxiliary valve is closed the weighted end of the primary beam 15 will have struck the upper branch of the trig-loop 25. Therefore the primary beam 19 is out of action; but the secondary or balance beam remains in action to weigh the mass that was in the bucket at the time the auxiliary valve was closed and also that material that was in the air between the material in the bucket and the supply hopper, which material subsequently falls onto the mass in the bucket.

I have described the action that takes place on the closing of the main valve. I will now set forth that which follows on the closing of the auxiliary one.

To what is shown in Fig. 16 as the right end of the rock-shaft 31 is fastened the arm 37, which when the auxiliary or drip valve 28 is wide open is engaged under its forward end by the yieldable latch 38, loosely mounted at its lower end upon the pivot or stud 39, extending inward from the primary beam 15 at a point coincident with the fulcrum thereof. This latch 38 is normally held in operative position by means of the spring 40, fastened at one end to the hub of the trip device 11 and bearing at its free end against the pin A2, extending laterally from the pivotally-mounted latch 38. The hub of the trip device, which, it will be seen, consists of an arm, is rigidly fastened to the stud 39. At a point immediately preceding the completion of the predetermined load in the bucket 2 the free end of the trip device 41, which, it will be understood, swings with the primary beam 15, strikes the pin 42 on the latch 38, thereby disengaging the latch from the arm 37. The consequence will be that the auxiliary or drip valve 28 is released and will be instantly closed. The motion that follows on the tripping of the latch 38 is a slight one and it occurs at an instant before the weighted of the rock-shaft 31 is fastened an arm 43,

from which the link 44 pivotally depends, the link (see Fig. 2) having at its lower end an elongated loop 45 to receive the projection or pin 46 upon the weighted arm of the primary beam. As the bucket is being lowered, the pin 46 will of course rise and leave the lower end of the loop 45. WVhen, however, the auxiliary valve 28 is closed in the manner hereinbefore described, the link 44, by virtue of its connection with said auxiliary valve, will be lifted so as to carry the lower end of the loop against said pin 46. When, therefore, the weighted arm of the primary beam lowers, it serves through the pin 46 to pull the link 44 downward and through the arm43 and shaft 31 to swing the auxiliary valve 28 wide open. As the auxiliary valve is opened the arm 37, which moves therewith, will ride against the rear face of the latch 38, and the moment that said auxiliary valve is wide open the latch 38, by the action of the spring 40,

will be snapped under the arm 37, so as to hold the auxiliary valve open until the latch is again tripped by the action of the primary beam.

The secondary or weighing beam 23, which performs the actual work of balancing the load in the bucket and with which, as will hereinafter appear, operates a recording device, has suspended from what is shown in record.

Fig. 1 (see also Fig. 12) as its left arm the weight 47 which constitutes one form of loadcounterbalance, the connection between the weight 47 and the beam 23 being a loose one and shown in the present instance as connected loops each denoted by 48, by virtue of which said weight can have a movement relative to the beam 23. This movement, as will hereinafter appear, occurs when a test is being made of the condition of the scale, which test is indicated upon a tape which receives the Therefore it will be obvious that the load-counterbalance is thrown out of operative relation with the weighing mechanism, and, as will be hereinafter set forth, this operation occurs at intervals and when the loadreceiver or bucket 2 does not carry a load. The beam 23 also carries the usual sliding weight 49, serving its customary purpose.

Plungers 50 are suspended from the scalebeam 23 (see Fig. l) at opposite sides of its center of motion, and the lower portions of these plungers are immersed in liquid contained in the vessels 51, connected at their lower ends by the pipe 52, by reason of which the liquid can flow from one vessel to another, and vice versa. with the pipe 52 at a convenient point in .its

length and serves to indicate the height of' parts are in the nature of supplemental poising means,being exactly counterbalanced. Should there be an excess of weight applied to the poising side of the beam, or that part to the right of its center of motion, said poising side will be drawn below the horizontal line, the counterpoising side of the beam being lifted above said line a corresponding distance, and the result, therefore, is that the plunger on the right is forced down deeper into the liquid, the other plunger being lifted a like extent. As the plunger on the right sinks into the liquid it meets gradually an increased resistance, while when the plunger on the left is rising it virtually increases in efiiciency to an extent proportionate to the body of liquid displaced by the plunger on the right,'thereby automatically counterbalancing an excess in weight put upon the poising side of the beam. The liquid displaced by the plunger on the right flows from the corresponding vessel into the other vessel, or the one at the left, by way of the connecting pipe or tube 52 and flows into the space left by the plunger on the left as it rises. Should the weight applied to the poising side of the beam be under the normal, just the opposite result will take place, so as to indicate light weight, and in the latter event the plunger on the left is dipped farther into the liquid contained in its vessel to displace the same, while the movement ofthe plunger on the right is virtually increased. Therefore the supplemental poising means acts to counterbalance an excess in load or to equalize a deficiency in the load, and such excess or deficiency, as will hereinafter appear, is recorded, the beam directly carrying a printing member to indicate either the excess or deficiency. Each plunger has a perforation 54, so that it serves as a dash-pot, and thereby avoids vibration of the secondary or weighing beam.

The liquid contained in the communicating vessels 51 may be of any suitable kind. In

practice I have found a mixture of common petroleum and refrigerator-plant oil a satisfactory liquid.

As hereinbefore stated,the machlne involves A gage-glass 53 is connected recording mechanism, and a record of the loads is taken, as well as any variation in the same, either-by way of deficiency in weight or excess in weight, and the recording mechanism in the present instance is operated by power, which power is also utilized after a record has been obtained to effect the discharge of a load.

In the casing 1 1 and mounted upon the shelf 13 is a supplemental framing 55, which carries certain recording, controlling, and other devices, as well as the power-shaft 56, which in the present instance is continuously rotative, said shaft extending through the rear of the casing and being provided outside the casing with a power-driven member, which is shown consisting of a pulley 57, which may be actuated by any suitable form of motor, transferring its force through belting. Neither motor nor belting is represented.

The power-driven member, as will hereinafter appear, is thrown into working relation with the recording means by mechanism under the control of the weighing mechanism, the parts being so organized in the present case that after the load is completed the recording means will be rendered effective.

Extending through what is shown in Fig. 1 as the right end and rear portion of the easing 14: is a stub-shaft 58, which fixedly earries at its inner end the rocker 59, the rocker being united to the stub-shaft between its ends. To that part of the stub-shaft 58 which projects outside the casing (see Fig. 16) is rigidly fastened the depending member 60, having at its lower end the offset 61, which cooperates with the swinging member 62, depending from the stub-shaft. The foot 63 of the swinging member 62 is provided with oppositely-beveled faces coacting with the trip 64 upon the arm 37, which, it will be remembered, is connected with the auxiliary or drip valve 28. When the auxiliary or drip valve is being closed, the trip 64 will swing down, and as it does so its beveled face will ride against the outer beveled face of the foot 63, thereby swinging the member 62 inward and pressing the same against the offset 61, whereby the member or arm 60 is swung in a corresponding direction to rock the shaft 58 and swing the upper arm of the rocker 59 to what is shown in Figs. 1 and 16 as the right. As the rocker thus swings its lower arm is moved away from the stop 65, in which position it is normally held by the coiled pushspring 66. The motion of the rocker 58, brought about by the action of the trip 64, is utilized to effect the release of a latch hereinafter described. The instant that the said latch is tripped the spring 66 tends to return the rocker 59 to its initial position, with the lower arm of the rocker abutting against the stop 65. As the auxiliary valve 28 is opened the arm 37 will of course be swung upward,

and the trip 64: on such motion will engage the inner beveled face of the foot 63 of the swinging member 62, the latter during such operation moving away from the offset 61. As soon asthe trip 64 passes free of the foot 63 on the opening of the valve the member 62 automatically or by its own weight resumes its initial position in contact with the offset or projection 61.

To the upper arm of the rocker 59 is connected one end of a rod 67, the other end of the rod being connected to a latch 68, (see Figs. 11 and 16,) which normally engages under the gravitative linger 69 to uphold said finger. The latch 68 is pivotally mounted upon a stud on the auxiliary framing 55. hen the roeker59 is operated through the agency of the trip 6% in the manner hereinbefore described, the rod 67 is drawn to the right, thereby pulling the latch 68 from under the gravitative finger 69, whereby the latter can drop to secure certain results hereinafter set forth.

The auxiliary frame just mentioned carries a shaft 70, (see Fig. 11,) to which a ratchet 71 is fastened, the ratchet being of the mutilated type and being shown as having one tooth omitted, the purpose of which will be set forth hereinafter. Loosely carried by said shaft is a rocker 72, having segmental teeth at its lower edge adapted to mesh with similarteeth on the rocker 73, loose on the shaft 74, situated below the shaft 7 O and also carried by the auxiliaryframe 55. The rocker 7 3 is pivotally connected to the rod or pitman 75, operated by the eccentric 76 on the main or power shaft 56. It will be understood that the rod is given a continuously-reciprocatory motion as long as the power-drivenmemberor pulley 57 is being rotated. Theresult, therefore,will be that the rocker 73 and hence the cooperating rocker 72 are oscillated. The rocker 72 pivotally carries at superposed points pawls 77 and 78,:which work opposit-ely. Normally the pawl 77 playsin the cut-out space of the ratchet 71. Normally, also the pawl 78 works against a guard 79, which is shown as an outwardly disposed slightly-curved flange at the upper end of the rocker 80, which rocker is oscillatory upon the shaft 70. The rocker 80, it will therefore be apparent, has a free movement upon the shaft 70 and carries a guard which is normally effective for maintaining one of the ratchet-operating pawls out of action. The pawl 78 as it is vibrated of course rides along the upper surface of the guard or flange 79 without rotating the ratchet 71, while at the same time the pawl 77 works back and forth in the cut-out space of said ratchet. The guard 79 is upon the upper arm of the rocker 80, while to the lower arm thereof is pivoted one end of the link 81, the opposite end of the link being connected to the lower end of shaft 83.

an arm 82, fixedly secured to and depending from the rock-shaft 83, which fixedly carries ]the finger 69, constituting an operating mem- Upon the completion of a load in the bucket, as hereinbefore described, the latch 68 is tripped, thereby freeing the gravitative finger 69, so that the same can drop, and as said finger drops the shaft 83 is rocked, thereby swinging the arm 82 toward what is shown as the left in Fig. 11, and consequently moving the guard or flange 79 to the right, where.- by the pawl 78 can drop into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 71. As the rocker 72, which carries said pawl, is constantly in motion, the pawl as soon as it is released by the guard will ratchet the wheel 71 around. When the pawl 78 encounters the cut-out space of the ratchet71, it becomes for the instant ineffective; but the pawl 77 during such instant is effective for rotating the ratchet 71, and such rotation of the ratchet will continue until it has made one complete turn or until the cut-out space thereof is brought opposite the point of the pawl 77. As the finger 69 is of the gravitative type, it must be positively returned to its initial position, or that shown in Fig. 11, whereby the latch 69 can engage under the same, and this function is obtained by the ratchet 77. The pawl 78 imparts practically a complete rotation to the ratchet 71, while the pawl 77 imparts the remainder of the motion to said ratchet. When the ratchet has nearly made a full turn, the effective portion of a cam 84, rigidly connected with the shaft 7 0, will engage a projection or roller 85 at the lower end of the arm 86, rigidly secured to and depending from the rock- The said cam, or rather the working portion thereof, engages the roller 85 just before the ratchet 71 has made a complete turn. The result will be that the arm 86 is swung toward the right in Fig. 10, thereby swinging the arm 82 in a corresponding direction and actuating the rocker 80 to again move the guard 79 into the path of the pawl 78. After the guard 79 has been returned to its pawl-holding position (shown in Fig. 11 by the cam 84) the ratchet 71 is of course operated, but by the pawl 77 or until the cut-out space of the ratchet comes opposite said lastmentioned pawl, as hereinbefore set forth,

when the ratchet will be at rest.

tative finger 69, when the latter is released, as hereinbefore described. I

The recording means, as will hereinafter appear, includes a main printing member, as 87, it being shown as a block bearing upon its face the figures 300, above which is the ab breviation Bal. for the Word balance.

Normally the character 300 is at the printing-point, so that an impression can be taken from the same. At intervals, as will hereinafter appear, the printing member is shifted, in the present instance in a downward direction, so as to bring the abbreviation Bal. at the printing-point. This shifting of the printing member occurs during the testing operation. The recording means also includes an auxiliary printing member, as 88, consisting of a plate fastened at its upper and lower ends to the free portions of a bowed spring 89,- carried at the extended left end (see Fig. 4) of the secondary scale-beam 23. If an absolutely accurate load, or, as in the present case three hundred pounds of material is in the bucket, the character 0 shown as located at the center of the auxiliary printing member 88, is brought to the printing-point and in horizontal line with the character indicating the weight of the load. Above and below the said O mark are certain fractional and unit marks to indicate either an excessor deficiency in the load, the said marks being followed by theletters L or H, as the case may bethat is, to show that the machine is light or heavy in its Work. The main printing member 87 is normally at rest, it being supported independently of the weighing mechanism, as the normal loads are of a known standard; but this does not apply either to deficiencies or excesses in weight, which are indicated by the auxiliary printing member.

The top of the casing 14 supports a boxing 90, into which a tape or ribbon, of paper or suitable material, in spool or roll form 91 is placed. (See Figs. 1 and 2for example.) The leading end of the tape is drawn downward from the spool or roll and passed between the rolls 92 and 93, arranged side by side below the printing member, the roll 93 constituting a feed-roll, and its periphery being milled or roughened to facilitate the feed of the tape, while the roll 92 constitutes a pressure-roll. Said roll 92 is eccentrically mounted and is provided with a weight 94 (see Fig. 14) to bite against the tape between the two rolls. The roll 93, as will hereinafter appear, is fed step by step, it being given a step movement after each load is recorded and being given an increased movement after a record of a test has been taken, as will be hereinafter set forth. The tape from the roll of paper passes in proximity to the main and auxiliary printing members 87 and 88, it being positively pressed against said printing members, as will hereinafter appear,-so that an impression will be had on the tape from the type on the printing members. In the present case the type cut into the paper, and thereby a permanent and satisfactory record is secured.

Upon the outer side of the auxiliary frame 55 is mounted for horizontal sliding movement a block or plate 95, (see Figs. 12 and 13,) provided at what is shown as the left end thereof with a pressure member 96 in the form of a projection on the block, said pressure member having a knife-edge portion 97, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. The inner side of the horizontally-reciprocative block 95 is slotted to receive a vertically-reciprocative slide 98, perforated to receive the crank-pin 99 on the outer end of the shaft 70, which shaft, it will be remembered, is given after each load is weighed one turn. The two blocks 95 and 98 are shown as occupying their normal positions in Fig. 13. hen the shaft is given its rotation in the manner hereinbefore described, the pin 99 is revolved, so as to impart one full stroke to the block 95 through the agency of the intermediate block 98, carried thereby. On the advance movement of the block 95, or as it travels toward the right in Fig. 13, the pressure member 96 thereon presses the tape or ribbon of paper against the type of the two printing members.

One of the first things that occurs after the arrest of the supply-stream from the bucket 2 is the release of the finger 69, which, it will be remembered, controls the action of the recording mechanism. After said finger 69has dropped and while the pressure member 96 is being advanced toward the two printing members the secondary scale-beam 23 is balancing the load in the bucket 2, and just before the said scale-beam 23 comes to rest the pressure member 96 will be adjacent the two printing members. On the completion of the advancing movement of the said pressure member the printed record of the load, as well as any variation in the same, will be secured.

To prevent oscillation of the beam 23 while a record is being taken, the knife-edge 97 is provided, it entering the space between the teeth or serrations of a toothed flange 100 on the auxiliary printing member. As soon as the impression is taken from the two printing members the pressure member 96 of course backs away from the same, the motion continuing until said pressure member 96 has resumed its normal position, or that shown in Fig. 13, the two pawls 7 7 and 78 at this time being in the position shown in Fig. 11, and the finger 69, which controls said pawls, being upheld by the latch 68, and said latch 68 will uphold said finger until it is tripped or released upon the completion of a second load.

The main printing member 87 is formed at the upper end of a bar or shank 101, pivotally connected at its lower end with a lever 102, supported by the auxiliary frame 55 and constituting a lifter for the load-counterweight 47. The purpose of the lever 102, as well as the'reason for its connection with the main printing member 87, will be hereinafter set forth.

The auxiliary frame 55 carries a rock-shaft 103, to the forward end of which is suitably fixed an angle-lever 104, the vertical arm of which is provided with a projection or antifriction-roll 105, cooperative with the cam Set, hereinbefore described. (See Figs. 6 and 10.) The angle-lever 10-1 is carried at one end of the shaft 103, while the arm 106 is carried at the opposite end of said shaft, the said arm 106 being outside the casing 1 1. This arm 106 is provided with a depending rod 107, constituting a breaking or flexing device for the closer-locking toggle hereinbefore described, which toggle, it will be remembered, consists of the connected rods 10 and 11. (See Fig. 2.) This rod 107 carries at its lower end a yokeshaped part 108. Just about the time the pressure member of the recording mechanism has resumed its initial or backward position, or that shown in Fig. 13, the working portion of the cam 84 will engage the antifriction-roll 105, so as to swing the approximately vertical arm of the angle-lever 10 1 to what is shown in Fig. 10 as the right. The shaft 103 will therefore be rocked thereby through the intermediate arm 106, lifting the rod 107 and carrying the toggle-breaking device 108 forcibly against the toggle, whereby the latter is flexed. As soon as said toggle is flexed the closer 6 is releases and will be forced open by the weight of the material sustained thereupon.

As soon'as the material commences to discharge from the bucket said bucket is lightened, and the tendency, therefore, of the weighted end of the primary beam 15 is to drop. I provide means for positively locking said beam against return movement the instant the load is discharged, and this result is brought about primarily by the cam 84:. hen said cam 84 rotates, it will be remembered that the shaft 103 is rocked to eflect the discharge of the load from the bucket. The arm 106, to which the load-discharging'means is connected,is provided with a projection 109, (see Figs. 5 and 6,) which normally is seated in a slight depression or recess nearthe upper end of the approximately vertically-disposed arm 110, rising from and rigidly united to the rock-shaft 111, which rock-shaft is suitably supported by the framework of the machine. The relation just set forth is maintained by a coiled spring 112, surrounding the said rockshaft and the terminal coils of which bear against a stop on a relatively fixed part and also against an offset on the arm 110 in proximity to said shaft.

Above the depression 113 in the arm 110, in which depression the antifriction-roll 109 normally lies, is a straight face 114:. As soon as the roll leaves the depression on the elevation of the arm 106 it rides against the straight face, so as to swing the arm 110 to what is shown in Fig. 5 as the left.

From the extreme outer end of the shaft 111 depends the arm 115, constituting a locking device for the primary beam 15, the working lower portion of the arm being shown as a lateral shoulder 116, cooperative with a pin or projection 117 extending inward from the rear and weighted arm of said primary beam. Normally the shoulder 116 is out of the path of the projection 117, so as to freely permit the making up of a load in the bucket 2. As soon, however, as the load is discharged in the manner hereinbefore set forth the rockshaft 111, through the primary intervention of the cam 84, is rocked, and as it rocks the arm 115 is swung in a direction to carry the shoulder or efiective portion 116 thereof under the pin 117 on the weighted side of the said primary beam 15, thereby preventingthe descent of said weighted side of the beam. The opening of the closer 6 occurs at this time, and as soon as the closer is opened the shaft 111 is returned to its initial position, as will now appear, to carry the shoulder 116 from under the pin 117, thereby releasing the primary beam so far as the locking element 115 is concerned. However, when the beam is released by said locking element 115 a second locking element comes into play for locking the beam while the closer is open, and the beam 15 is locked against return movement against the arm 110 and through the latter acts on the angle-lever 104 by virtue of the of the said cam. This snapping of the roll into said notch is brought about by the spring 112, which up to this point was under compression. The spring of course initially acts intermediate connections. The arm 106, under the action of the spring 112, will be lowered, and the arm 110, also under said spring action, will be swung to the right in Fig. 5.

As said arm 110 swings in such last-mentioned direction the shaft 111, carrying it, is rocked,

shown at 120, at its outer end.

so as to carry the shoulder 116 from under the pin 117.

Upon the counterweighted side of the primary beam 15 is a curved finger 119. The stub-shaft on the bucket 2, which carries the disk or wheel 8, is of semicircular form, as

This construction of the terminal outer portion of the stub-shaft produces a flattened face. As the counterweighted side of the beam 15 rises on the supply of material into the bucket 2 the finger 119 will of course be elevated therewith and the free portion will be carried in proximity to the flattenedface of the portion 120 of the shaft of the wheel 8. I When the has been taken of each load. 'complishing this result will now be set forth.

to which it is fastened, will be rotated, and as the said parts rotate the flattened portion of the semispherical end 120 of the wheelshaft will be brought to a horizontal position and under the finger 119,whereby the weighted side of the beam 15 is locked against descent. This locking of the finger by the shaft takes place the instant the closer opens and is a rapid one, whereby the moment the beam is released by the locking element 115 a second locking means will be effective to hold the beam against return. hen the closer 6 shuts after a load of material has fully passed clear of the same, the locking portion 120 is carried from under the finger 119, thereby releasing the primary beam, so that it can be returned to its initial position by the falling of the weight 47.

The tape or ribbon upon which impressions are taken from the printing mechanism should be given a step-by-step motion-that is, the said ribbon must be fed one step after a record A means for acshaft 74. (See Fig. 10.) The other arm of the angle-lever 126 carries a pawl 127, cooperative with the teeth of the ratchet 121. Each time that the cam 84 operates the angle-lever 104 in the manner hereinbefore set forth the link 125 is lifted from the position shown in Fig. 6, so as to thrust the pawl 127 to the left, the pawlthereby operating the ratchet 121 a distance of one tooth. The gear 123 is also rotated a corresponding distance and rotates the companion gear 124,thereby rotating the feedroll 93 and imparting a step to the tape or ribbon which receives the impressions. It should be understood that the operation of the pawl 127 takes place after a record of a load has been made, the parts being so timed as to bring about this result. In fact, the operation of the pawl 127 occurs when the pressure member 96 has nearly resumed its initial position.

I have described at length the construction and operation of the machine organized for weighing and delivering automatically loads of material and securing a record of the loads. At intervals I automatically test the condition or balance of the scale and secure a record of the test. In making the test it is necessary to throw the load-counterbalance out of operative relation with the weighing mechanism, the load-receiver or other carrier for the latter being at this time free of a load. The testing of the machine may take place at desircharacter indicating the load away from the printing-point and to bring another character to such printing-point, this shifting of the printing member being secured in the present instance by virtue of its connection with the lever 102, which, as will be remembered, constitutes a lifter for the load-counterbalance 47.

The ratchet 121 is loose on the shaft 7 4, and, as previously stated, it is fed a distance of one tooth after a record of each load has been taken. This record has on what is shown as its inner side a flange 128, shown as annular and as having the let-off or releasing notch 129. (See, for example, Figs. 11 and 21.) The inner side of the said ratchet 121 also has a projection cooperative with a substantially similar projection 131 on'the adjacent ratchet 132, said ratchet 132 being shown as mutilated, it having two of its teeth removed or cut out fora purpose that will hereinafter appear. The ratchet 132 is fast on the shaft 74. In Fig. 20 I have indicated by an arrow the direction of rotation of the ratchet 121. After the ratchet 121 has been rotated a distance of twenty teeth, or after twenty loads have been weighed, recorded, and discharged, the projection 130 will strike against the corresponding projection 131 on the ratchet 132,

so that on the subsequent rotation of the ratchet 121 it, through the two engaging projections, will effect a rotation of the ratchet 132. The ratchet 132 is shown in Fig. 19 as occupying its normal position, at which time the upper cut-out space thereof will be opposite an actuating-pawl hereinafter described.

WVhen the ratchet 132 is rotated by the ratchet the latter becomes effective to rotate the ratchet 132. whereby the mechanism for throwing the load-counterbalance out of action will become effective.

Fixedly secured to the rock-shaft 111 and rising therefrom is an arm 133. (See, for example, Fig. 12.) Normally the upper end of this arm bears against the uncut or solid portion of the circumference of the flange 128. When, however, the let-off or releasing notch 129 insaid flange is brought opposite the upper end of said arm 133 by the rotation of the ratchet 121, said upper end will be snapped into said notch by the spring 134. (See, for example, Fig. 11.)

Upon the side of the supply-hopper 26 is mounted between its ends a rocker 135 (see, for example, Fig. 2) of approximately angular form, what might be considered the rear arm of the rocker being engaged each time the closer 6 is opened by the pin 136 on the disk or wheel 8, which pin constitutes a pivot for the rod 9. \Vhen the said rearward arm of the rocker is engaged, the forward arm thereof is elevated. This operation of the rocker 135 occurs each time the closer 6 is opened; but the rocker only accomplishes a desired result on the testing operation after the discharge of the twentieth load from the bucket 2.

Rigidly fastened to and rising from the rock-shaft 111 is an angular arm 13?, (see, for example, Fig. 11,) to the approximately horizontal branch of which is pivoted the finger 138. hen the upper end of the arm 133 is sprung into the let-off or releasing notch 129 after the recording of the twentieth load, the arm 137 is carried in a corresponding direction, the finger 138 of course moving with said arm 137, whereby a projection 139 on said finger is carried over a projection 140 on the forward arm of the rocker 135. The result will be that when the closer 6 is opened to permit the discharge of the twentieth load and when the rocker is operated through the primary agency of said closer the linger 138 will be lifted by the forward arm of said rocker by virtue of the engagement of the two projections 139 and 140. The purpose of this shifting of the linger 138 is to throw a guard hereinafter described into the path of the pawl 141, (see Fig. 8, for example,) which pawl is carried upon the continuallyoperating rocker 73. (See Fig. 11.) The said pawl 141 is shown in Fig. 11 as being in its normal position and playing in the upper cut-out space of the ratchet 132.

Loosely carried by the shaft 74 is a rocker 142, (shown best in Fig. 9,) the upper arm of which has an inwardly-extending flange 143, constituting a guard at a certain point for holding the pawl 141 out of action. The lower arm of therocker 142 is connected with a link 144, united in turn to the depending arm 145, rigidly secured to the rock-shaft 146. The guard 143 is shown in Fig. 11 as occupying its normal position, it being at one side of the pawl 141, which during this time is playing back and forth in the cut-out space of the ratchet 132, and said guard is maintained in such position by a spring 147, connected with the rocker 142 and shown as being of the coiled type.

After a record has been taken of the twentieth load the ratchet 121 is fed a distance equaling one tooth, and during the said feeding movement the load is being positively discharged from the bucket. As the ratchet 121 makes such Y movement it is effective through the projection 130, which engages the projection 131 on the ratchet 132 to feed the latter a distance of one tooth, thereby carrying the upper cut-out space of said ratchet 132 away from the pawl 141. During this motion the arm 133 is released, as hereinbefore described, so. that it can be swung inward by 

